Ordered oysters, chowder, and lobster sliders. All excellent. Beautiful views of the water and on point waitstaff. We will be back soon! read more

The Back Eddy - Fresh is best! - Seafood Near Me - Westport, Massachusetts

A very disappointing visit to one of our "used to be" favorite restaurants, where we have been going for years. We have always loved the Back Eddy; the view from the deck is spectacular which is where we always begin our visit. On this evening (this past Saturday night) the View A+, bar waitress on the deck A+, drink A+. We were told by one of the hostesses (a very pleasant one unlike the one you will read further down) there would be a 45 minute wait for an outside table and we were happy to wait. However, after an hour and 15 minutes plus my husband went to inquire and was told it would be a longer wait as there were still three groups of diners ahead of us. My husband spoke to one of the hostesses and said we would accept a table inside and a very unfriendly woman (another hostess?) led us to a table in the back part of the restaurant, next to the fireplace/behind the bar area. When I expressed that I did not want to sit there since we had been waiting for longer than expected and wanted to be in the main part of the restaurant where there WAS an empty table (which we pointed out to her), she walked off in a huff and left us standing in the middle of the restaurant and went to help another guest. It was extremely rude behavior. I then went back to the hostess stand and spoke to someone else and we were taken to another table that was EMPTY in the main dining room. The initial (rude) hostess never spoke to us or looked our way again, and I had a feeling we were badly spoken of to other staff since one waitress, whom I've known for years, could barely acknowledge us after this happened and, trust me, we had not made a scene and were NOT disrespectful or anything of the sort. We had merely expressed our desire to be seated in the main dining room. Needless to say, it was very uncomfortable. My husband and I are very nice people, always pleasant and never, EVER rude or demanding to wait staff in restaurants, always tip generously and are not used to such treatment. I would like to say that the waitress assigned to our table was WONDERFUL, very professional and very friendly as were the bussers, etc. The food was average, not as good as in years past (we ordered the same entree we always order) so we certainly have experience for comparison, but it's the view on the deck that keeps us coming back. This episode, however, left us feeling very upset so our next visit may just be for drinks and appetizers outside and we will go elsewhere for our meal. Understand, I am not one to write negative reviews but our treatment Saturday night by this one particular "hostess" was so unpleasant I felt the need to express my feelings. I have worked in the hotel hospitality industry for over 14 years and this woman's behavior, such as it was on this particular occasion, would not be appropriate in any venue. read more

The view from the Back Eddy is unbeatable. I've been frequenting this location since my early 20's - since it was Moby Dick - and it's gone downhill: it's overpriced and the food isn't really all that good. I've heard some people call it lousy. Their staffing decisions could be better: I was there on a beautiful Saturday afternoon (3ish: the outdoor deck wasn't open and there was one bartender inside for the entire restaurant. I think the $7-$8 beer was 10oz.... I hope they shape up. read more

We have been coming here for years but we're very disappointed with this meal. The special soup was way too salty, the salmon had no flavor and the fried scallops did not taste fresh either. Our server was not friendly or attentive. read more

Visited this restaurant for the first time and had a great time. Food was good, 3/5. Wait service I received was great, I'd give that a solid 5/5. Great Job Lisa! Views are really good as well. Starting with the Raw Bar, Oysters were decent - nothing spectacular but good. I then had the classic fish and chips. A little stingy on the fries but the fish was good and flaky - could have had a flakier batter though. Desert was a Crème brûlée. Very good even though I had to share the desert because there was only one left. Overall impression was above average. Food was good, service was great, ambiance was very good. Things you should know: If you would like to sit outside on the deck, the largest group allowed is a party of 4. There is a lot of standing room and a few metal seats and small tables for drinks but that area has no wait service and drinks are cash only unless you want to keep walking to the indoor bar and taking your drink outside. Despite those negatives, I would still go back to this restaurant and recommend it to friends. read more

Attended a intimate family wedding dinner there last night. Definitely worth every penny, and nothing was out of control as far as prices go. We had the Flat Bread, Mussels, Steamers, Chowder and dinners consisting of Lobster, Salmon, Scallops, Salads, and a couple of kids selections. Of 16 people, not a single person had anything negative to say about the food... We had a very enthusiastic server (I wish I had her name) who was super attentive yet not overbearinto everyone in the party, helped in deciding when things should come out, helped with getting the cake out onto the patio area we used and just overall the best of the best, not to many like her these days. Even the lot attendant was great in that he continued to hold the spot in the parking lot so the Bride & Groom could park close by. The views outside of the docks and boats were great, that added to the ambiance of the evening. Definitely recommended for those looking for a tried and true Seaside restaurant, its really worth the trip. read more

I am very sad to write this review as I was expecting more from a place so popular. This was not my decision to come here as I am a non seafood eater. Although, my family told me that they had other options, so I assumed there would be some good options for me. Out of the three options I could choose from, which were from the children's menu, I chose the bacon cheeseburger cooked medium rare. When I got my burger it was cooked well done and cold. I know I can't be very upset as this is a predominately seafood restaurant, but I was expecting more from a place held to such high standards. read more

We had a family dinner last night for 8 adults and 6 children, ages 2-14, to celebrate our 50th anniversary. We were seated in a small room off the main dining room and it was great. The food was excellent. We had plenty of different appetizers and a range of dinner choices. No complaints from anyone. In particular, we all found the service to be outstanding. The server was terrific: friendly, thorough and very accommodating. We couldn't ask for more. We will be back. read more

I went to The Back Eddy the day it opened, and have been back ever since. Looking at the other reviews, I wish there were a way to sort Yelp reviews by the writers' IQs. The Back Eddy is fantastic...the key to the menu is listening to the server and asking what the kitchen recommends...the chef & owners are thoughtful about seasonal menu changes and local sourcing. Scallops done any way are always wonderful. There's a flatbread on the menu right now that is astounding. An inspired classic is the stuffed calms, and anyone with a palette would be doing themselves a disservice to miss them (insider tip...add a 4th to the standard order of three!). Any seafood special is usually outstanding, and the chefs do amazing things with bluefish in particular--often adding a Portuguese-inspired nuance by way of a chorizo or linguica accent. The deviled eggs (where else can you get them?) are an artful presentation. And don't discount the unassuming fish & chips. As for the grievances from other Yelpers: Yes, it can get noisy in the main dining room...because as my wife says, "It's a happy place". But in season, a drink first on the back dock allows you to take in the view & the water breeze. Some other reviews are misinformed: the menu is NOT overpriced, though you would conclude so if you are accustomed to eating out Taunton or Brockton, and yes there's a wait when it is busy (an economist would call this evidence of a 'revealed preference'), and the entitled "New Yorker" set would love to complain about it, rather than enjoy a drink on the dock before the meal. The key to fully-appreciating The Back Eddy is to understand the food and experience is a niche offering that welcomes you to enjoy its nuances it as you would a coffee at a unique café, not a "Dunkin Donuts". If--like most of middle-America--you simply don't know how to dine out, and are accustomed to big plates of salt/sugar/carbs preceded by a loaf of bread to gorge yourself on before the entrée, a better match for you might be The Cove in Fall River, which has done a wonderful job of adapting a Cheesecake Factory-approach to waterfront seafood. Or maybe the Venus DeMilo, where you CAN substitute more "queso fries" for your salad. The Back Eddy is much like Westport itself; an out-of-the-way gem that is worth the journey with a unique New England persona that is worth embracing, notwithstanding its quirks. To be sure, you haven't done the place a favor by driving 30 minutes out of your way, so if you arrive and bark at the servers like it's your dad's country club, don't expect to enjoy the place on YOUR terms, not its terms. The Eddy is a great spot that is cherished by the many customers that know how to fully-appreciate its charm, and welcomes anyone who is looking to enjoy an exceptional seafood dinner served in a truly breathtaking atmosphere. read more

My wife and I stopped by the Back Eddy for lunch on Saturday. We started out with the cerviche for an appetizer for $10.50 and was very disappointed when it arrived at our table. The portion size was so small and was topped with a tomato sauce which didn't taste too good. We also ordered the yellow tuna rare with grilled vegetables, when this arrived at our table the tuna was cooked as ordered but the vegetables were not grilled properly and the ginger that went with dish was old and dried out along with the greens on the dish. No care has been given when this dish was made, which left us very disappointed. I probably won't be dining here for sometime as there are other good dining establishments in the area. read more

Went for a 5K run on Horseneck Beach and sat outside on the deck cooling down and then for an early 5pm dinner. Had the Giant Wild White Shrimp Cocktail. Good but not great. Then had the Bacon Wrapped Giant Scallops with a summer succotash & local greens. Again good but not great. Funny both these dishes had the word "giant" in the menu description. That's not how I would describe either of them. The Shrimp were large (I've had bigger) and the Scallops were the size I would expect from an Ocean rather than Bay scallop (perhaps even on the smallish size.) Had a side of cornbread and the Coconut Sticky Rice Pudding with grilled pineapple for desert. Both good. Would have been 3 stars for the food (good and serviceable and worth coming back to try the oysters and other fish). But the service was 5-star. I don't know if it was the time of day or where I sat, but I had a continuous stream of water refills, attentive service, plate clearing, etc. read more

Beautiful atmosphere, food was good although a bit overpriced. Plenty of parking space and easy to travel to.

Perhaps the fact that this is one of only two seafood restaurants in this part of town was to blame for the long wait for a table for 4 on a TUESDAY night, poor service once we were seated, and sub-par food. Oh and let's not forget the overpriced menu. I've had better fish and chips at Burger King in Manhattan. read more

When a restaurant that charges $25 for salmon says, "no substitutions," I say, "no business." If you want a pretentious fish restaurant, this is for you. Otherwise, there are better options. read more

We discovered Back Eddy and Bayside while visiting nearby vineyards. Someone at a winery recommended both - suggesting that Back Eddy attracts more tourists while Bayside attracts more locals. We decided to try Back Eddy first. While the location is good (right on the water), we found the menu options limited and expensive for the quality of the food (mostly fried seafood options). Next day we tried Bayside and it too has a good location, though not right on the water. The menu was broad and had some great options. Prices were much better than Back Eddy and we found a number of healthy seafood options. Our favorites were Gazpacho, Lobster roll, eggplant fries, etc. Would recommend Bayside over Back Eddy. read more

Awesome spot for a quick bite or a drink after a day on the beach or just to get out of the cottage for a few on your vaycay. Menu is full of unique offerings, and the beer list is surprisingly large. The steamed mussels are a fan favorite and a unique stand out on a dish that you can find almost anywhere in New England read more

I went here on a Friday night about 8 PM. We had about a 40 minute wait, but it was a beautiful, warm evening and we sat on the deck and waited. It was a beautiful location with boats docked all around. There was decent music playing in the background. They called us for our table exactly 40 minutes later. We had a decent table, but I have to comment on the loudness of this restaurant. It was extremely loud. Almost hard to hear your table-mate loud. It's probably the acoustics. We started off with salads. My date got a house salad which was mixed greens and candied walnuts I believe. It looked very good. I got the Caesar salad. The croutons were excellent. The dressing was good. The only problem is that the romaine was mostly the hard, outer leaves and was rather hard and bitter. A shame, because the dressing and croutons were excellent. Anyone who knows me, knows I do not eat seafood or fish. What? a foodie that doesn't eat seafood? In the Boston area, no less? I know. Weird. Well, the Back Eddy is NOT the place to go if you do not eat fish or seafood... unless of course, you love a good rib eye steak. There were only two items on the menu that were not from the sea. The rib eye steak and pulled pork. My date got the rib eye, and I got the pulled pork. The pulled pork was, well, different. It was a North Carolina pulled pork, so I was expecting a vinegar based pork, which it was. However, there was an extreme, (and I do mean extreme) peppery hot (as in burning) after taste that I wasn't really expecting. I think the spiciness surprised me. My pork was served with baked beans which were good and coleslaw. The sweetness of the beans and coolness of the slaw offset the heat. There was cornbread, which I found a little stale. I don't think I would order this again if I was ever to return to this place. There was a good amount of food. The pulled pork was about $18. (I thought a little pricey, but it is an upscale place). My date, like I said, got the rib eye. That was divine. Very tasty. He also got grilled vegetables which looked excellent. If the opportunity ever comes for me to return to the Back Eddy, it will definitely be the steak for me! Dessert was creme brulee which was awesome. It was definitely large enough for two to share. All in all, it was a nice dinner, and I would give this restaurant another try. I think if you like seafood, you would be quite happy here. I also think that if I had gotten the steak, I might be giving one more star! read more

Good but agree with other prices have gone up. Alot of snobby people for horse neck beach their picking their clientele they dont want the reg average person. Very $$$ read more

Overpriced. $12 for a fish sandwich (no sides), $30 for tuna with a tiny portion of cabbage. I understand it's on the water and the little food we had was good but it's overpriced. Lunch was $60 and left hungry. read more

I love this place the atmosphere is fantastic in the manager Michelle is truly an asset to this restaurant. She immediately made me feel comfortable and welcome. We were leaving she was full of wonderful advice about things to do in the greater Westport area. With her smile and wonderful personality coupled withGreat local seafood you cannot go wrong say hi to Michelle when you get there read more

There must be a distinct disconnect in ratings between folks who are drinking on the dock than those inside the dining area. This is no where near a 5-star level. The entrees are certainly not to the quality they should be for the price. An overdone ribeye steak (and appeared much smaller than the menu claim) laid on top of french fries for $25 we don't consider "fine dining". No bread or salads with the entrees. Kids can pick a hot dog, overdone chicken strips or mac n cheese for $9? Seriously. We are regretting our decision to drive an hour to eat here. read more

Great service, great location and incredible food. The stuffed clams are some of the best I have had, the seared tuna was spot on and the truffle fries are a must try. Will definitely be returning. read more

A bartender with situational awareness may be helpful. Sat at your bar for 8 minutes today (that's about 7 minutes too long) and was never acknowledged by your bartender. The couple on the side of me was in shock. It was actually comical. She held a full conversation with a waitress, did 2 laps around the bar, dropped food in front of others (literally put it down without saying a word). I walked out after another patron walked in and was served before me. The couple next to me said "this is an embarrassment". And they are right. If I return I would hope there's someone that pays a little more attention to their customers. read more

WOW not what I expected at all! I figured it was a clam shack kind of like Crabby Shack in Plymouth. Not at all... very casual atmosphere after all why compete with the view. But the food so well done and fresh. The stuffed clams only 3 but great and filling. Fried scallops extremely light batter not even sure there was a batter so sweet best we have ever tasted. I got the pan roasted monk fish on braised cabbage. OMG I was in heaven. Didn't go near the desserts no room! It's a bit of a drive for us but definitely a destination! read more

Nice location. Went in off season so the place wasn't crowded. Food was good but somewhat pricey.

On the advice of two friends I took my wife and three of my four boys and seven of my friends to The Back Eddy to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary after renewing our Vows on Horseneck Beach. Fantastic experience. Great place, although it was crowded the staff was warm and friendly, they were prepared and the food was awesome. Thank you Nancy Stratton and Kieth Maloney for great advice. read more

So lets see where to begin. We were seated in some back room that had 6 tables in it and about a 8 foot high ceiling. We couldn't hear each other think, nevermind talk. It took about 15 minutes to get a drink order, another 20 to get a food order, and another 30 to get the bill while the dishes sat on the table. As far as the food goes, its average seafood for the area priced where it doesn't belong. The raw bar was excellent, aside from the oysters being smaller than the little necks. The chowder is very good as well. The entrees, there were 4 on the table - none of them were spectacular. I probably won't go back here, the food, service, and ambiance isn't worth the hefty bill at the end. read more

We visited The Back Eddy last week. Since I come with 2 kids (one with food allergies), we always go to restaurants on the early side of dinner. This time we were some of the first people seated at 5:15. No line, no waiting for a table for 7. Our server was excellent, so much so that we added to the 18% gratuity that was automatically included. She knew the ingredients in every dish from memory and was extremely accommodating of my daughter's food allergy. The food itself was fabulous. We had 2 scallop dishes (the ones wrapped in bacon were the best by far). My lobster casserole was a bit heavy on the butter and light on other flavors (including the lobster). The PEI mussels appetizer was the best thing we had all night. A little spicy, a little creamy, just the right balance for the brininess of the mussels themselves. Fantastic. There were plenty of other groups with the kinder along, so feel free (particularly at the earlier dinner hours). They have all the kid-friendly stuff (straw cups with lids, coloring pages, etc.). The outdoor area is great for a walk if restlessness sets in. read more

The Back Eddy is celebrating their 14th year in business this year, and we've been occasional visitors from the time they opened. We've always been a fan, but the last time we visited a couple of years ago, the food was only mediocre, both in terms of creativity, execution of the dishes, and variety. I'm happy to say that it looks like they're back on the map. We had a fantastic meal tonight and they have gotten back to featuring local produce and seafood. The clam and corn chowder was amazing, with lots of tender bits of clams, sweet corn, and smoky bacon in every spoon full. The flat bread with homemade sausage and mushrooms was fantastic. Woodsy/earthy mushroom with lean sausage and truffle oil -- what a delicious combination! I had the wood grilled tuna, which was just a tad past the medium rare that I ordered, but it was still wonderful. We could taste the wood grill in every bite, and while the tuna was not sushi grade, it was still buttery smooth and tender. And the grilled vegetables and kim chee sides were a nice complement. My wife got the scallops tournados. Sure, what doesn't taste good with bacon, but the scallops were perfectly cooked and sweet as the day is long. And the vegetable "hash" (fresh corn, sweet peas, zuccini, etc) that accompanied the scallops was heavenly. I'm also a sucker for homemade pickles... Service was great, the setting spectacular, and I always like a place that includes a dessert with the kids' meals. Yeah, it was only a Hoodsie ice cream cup, but the kids like it and it's a nice added touch to their meal. Five stars is being a little generous. If I could, I'd have given then 4 1/2 stars, but I'm a little surprised that the average Yelp rating is only 3 1/2 stars. read more

Went here for a friends birthday, great time. I am not a seafood lover so I had the ribeye, it was cooked exactly as I like it and the seasonings were perfect. The honky fries were delicious too. I started with the gazpacho, great flavor and just enough chunky veggies to make it more of a stew than soup. The rest of the party had seafood, everyone commented on how light the fried food was. We guessed they use fresh, clean oil and don't over batter the food, best scallops they ever had. Desserts were fantastic as well, I think we shared one of each. Crème Brûlée was creamy with a nice crunchy topping, apple crisp had the perfect amount of crumble on top and the blueberry buckle was very reminiscent of my grandmothers. All in all a fantastic night, we will be back!! read more

An exceptional dining experience. I had family visiting from the Azores and decided that a water front restaurant would be a perfect choice. The service was great and the meals with all the local fare were outstanding. Can't wait to go back and enjoy a great meal and an amazing sunset read more

Fun crowd. Decent food, with fresh-ish fish. Very expensive, given that you're in God+forsaken Westport. But it's the only game in town. So: go. read more

What a beatuifu view of the water! I would give it 5 stars because the food was excellent and we sat outside for our dinner. Before we were seated, we had some cocktails on the deck, which was so nice, I even put my feet in the water LOL! The atmosphere was excellent. Couldn't ask for more. read more

This was our second time here and it didn't disappoint again. We ordered almost the same items. We started with the raw seafood platter and a delicious bottle of Cakebread Chardonnay. The devil sauce was a real treat to have with it. We then moved on to the deviled eggs and stuffies. The deviled eggs have a nice flavor with a little kick or you can order the sushi tuna on top instead. The stuffies we OK. A little small and although tasty, they lacked some punch. Then we shared an entree of the scallops. Oh my God, they were delicious. They were served with such a tasty succotash. It was the perfect Sunday afternoon treat on the water. read more

I've been here three times and the food is always solid and the drinks always cold and generous. I tend to prefer sitting at the bar in the rear for the people watching and interacting! Last visit we got steamers and the mussels in a Thai like sauce that was just perfection - so much so we needed extra bread to sop it up! I highly recommend this place for a post Horseneck Beach bite to eat. read more

I agree with the first review but won't rate it five stars. The location is hard to beat. Right on the westport river accessable by boat if you have one. There are three things that I have a problem with but would never keep me away. 1.) it is noisy, 2.) it is so popular and the wait is sometimes too long 3.) the prices are high. The last review said something about market price. The market priced fish was over $25. This is not a cheap eats type of place. Wtih all that said the back eddie is a must got to restaurant if in the area. It is a experience that everyone must have eating and drinking at sunset in a great atmosphere. The cornbread is great and a must get at the restaurant., read more

Any place that has turnip soup and turnip hash on the menu gets points in my book. One that makes both taste really good definitely rates! Of course seafood is the specialty here and The Back Eddy definitely does well in that department. The scallops and the tuna went over well at my table. To start the salad was really good, if not fairly standard (greens, goat cheese, and pecans). As for the truffle soup, I'm sure the truffle oil and loads of creme go a long way to making it delicious without a really strong turnip taste. The turnip hash is a fun twist on the usually potato hash with red peppers, carrots and, of course, turnips. The restaurant was a nice, casual place with friendly wait staff right on the water. Go and have fun... it's already decorated for the holidays! read more

What's not to love about The Back Eddy? It's perfect for any size group or age range; the restaurant is lively, quaint & fun; and its perfect after a day at Horseneck beach. read more

Beautiful building in a gorgeous waterfront setting. Last time I was there I had fish & chips and my dining companion had fried clams. While not bad, these were probably my least enjoyed meals here. They seem to be at their best with more inventive preparations, and anything with a Portuguese slant. My only quibble is I wish they'd make the back deck an extension of the restaurant, decorate it accordingly and serve full meals. Unless they've changed this, you can only get a deck menu of things like hotdogs & hamburgers. read more

First time eating here not too long ago. On such a gorgeous day I wanted to sit outside and eat seafood, specifically shrimp cocktail. The shrimp was large and very fresh, but portion size was smaller at 4 shrimp. Luckily my awesome boyfriend shared his 2 shrimp from his raw bar platter! The Satanic cocktail sauce was perfectly spicy and flavorful. The side of asparagus was tasty, but I think there was only about 6 or 7 pieces for $6.00! Not a good value there. Boyfriend liked the complimentary home made pickles too. read more